Man Uses Stolen Identity to Purchase Camaro ZL1 in Elaborate Scheme
Amazingly, a Massachusetts man stole around $500k in a year and bought a new Camaro ZL1 before he was caught.
Theft is a terrible thing, of course, and to an automotive enthusiast, there’s nothing worse. A Worcester, Massachusetts man named Brandon Brouillard recently “stole” a 2021 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, an act that doesn’t seem all that unique on the surface, but this was no smash and grab job by any means. Rather, this particular criminal went to the trouble of stealing someone else’s identity and money, then used it to buy the Camaro ZL1, among other things, according to the Telegram & Gazette.
Brouillard allegedly used someone else’s identity from another state to open a bank account back in February, then proceeded to transfer $108,000 from another person’s bank account. Then, he set out to do what a lot of people would after happening upon a cash windfall – he went shopping for his dream car, which in this case, was a brand new Camaro.
After test driving the new ZL1 at a local Chevy dealership, Brouillard agreed to pay $83,000 for the car. Everything obviously looked legit, as he provided identification and a cashier’s check for the full amount on the spot, as well as proof of insurance and all the other required documentation. But after Brouillard took the car home, a tiny little problem surfaced.
When it tried to cash the check, the dealer discovered that the account tied to it had been frozen. They promptly called Brouillard, who said that he would wire them the money instead, and amazingly enough, he tried to do just that – using someone else’s bank account, of course. Brouillard sent that person’s bank an email, using that person’s email address, requesting the wire transfer. Luckily, the bank found the transaction to be a bit suspicious and contacted the actual owner of the account, who promptly called the police.
Incredibly, Brouillard allegedly stole a total of around $500,000 before he was caught in a spending spree that dates back to last September. He purchased a number of big-ticket items without the victims apparently noticing, which is precisely why we tend to check our own accounts on a daily basis. It’s hard to believe that something like this could happen in today’s increasingly digital world, but now that he’s been caught, Brouillard is facing two counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Needless to say, he probably won’t be behind the wheel of a cool car – or any car for that matter -for some time.
Photos: Chevrolet
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